Washington University Undergraduate Law Review Volume 1 Article 3 5-2016 Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain Destiny LeVere University of Richmond, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr Part of the Law and Politics Commons, and the Law and Society Commons Recommended Citation LeVere, Destiny (2016) "Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain," Washington University Undergraduate Law Review: Vol. 1. Available at: https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr/vol1/iss1/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Washington University Open Scholarship. It has been accepted for inclusion in Washington University Undergraduate Law Review by an authorized administrator of Washington University Open Scholarship. For more information, please contact [email protected]. LeVere: Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain GLOBALIZATION AND GENDER: INEQUALITY TRANSFORMED IN SPAIN DESTINY LEVERE This article examines the extent to which the boom of globalization led to the transformation of gender inequality in Spain, based on three schools of thought: one, that globalization has transformed gender inequality in Spain for the better by creating equal opportunities, two, that globalization has caused a more stark contrast and practice of gender inequality in Spain, and three, that globalization has made no difference in Spain’s fight with gender inequality. In order to portray the three schools of thought, a comparison will be drawn between what gender roles and opportunities were given to men and women in Spain during the rule of Franco during the years of 1936-1975 and post-Franco’s rule during the years of 1975-2015. 1 1 Washington University Undergraduate Law Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [2016], Art. 3 INTRODUCTION Imagine a period in time when a political dictator decided that women were only lowly and meek background players in the lives of men. Although their roles as mother and wife were grandiose in labor, their societal existence was equivalent to that of a child. Now, imagine a time where this dictator dies and an entire country is turned upside down by the overwhelming and exciting influence from Western states that have been more progressive in their ideas, technology, and way of living. Imagine that this is the time where the women who were once looked-down upon and who were once placed into a box of specific roles are liberated to step outside of what they once were to become who they truly are meant to be. This scenario, however, is not something that you have to imagine, but instead, a reality. This scene has presented itself for years in Spain from the Franco dictatorship until today. Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, 2 https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr/vol1/iss1/3 2 LeVere: Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain often referred to as Franco, was both a military general, but more importantly, the head of state of Spain from 1936 until his death in November of 1975. During his reign as the sole political leader, Franco took over the political party known as the Falange and went against the opposing party. Franco and the party took complete and utter control of Spain by imprisoning and executing innocent Spaniards and any of those who went against his rule. In fact, Franco and his followers were against any form of regional autonomy, free elections, social democracy, liberal democracy, and more importantly in regards to this thesis, women’s rights--ranging from the right to vote to the right to work outside of the home. The dictatorship changed the way of life for many; especially women, by redefining their roles and how they were viewed in society. It was not until the last years of the Franco regime, and more importantly the years following his death, that the transition to democratization began. This rapid burst 3 3 Washington University Undergraduate Law Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [2016], Art. 3 of democracy was paired with the theory of globalization. Globalization, according to David Held, Anthony McGrew, David Goldblatt and Jonathan Perraton, is “the widening, deepening, and speeding up of worldwide interconnectedness in all aspects of contemporary social life, from the cultural to the criminal, the financial to the spiritual (2). Thomas Friedman defines globalization as “the inexorable integration of markets, nation-states, and technologies to a degree never witnessed before--in a way that is enabling individuals, corporations, and nation- states to reach around the world farther, faster, deeper, and cheaper than ever before (27). Both definitions of globalization declare globalization as a process to transforming “the nature, form, and prospects of human communities” (Held, et.al 1). Globalization played a rather large role in transforming not just the nation-state as a whole, but it influenced the way in which people lived their day-to-day lives; for the purpose of this paper, it transformed, what I will call gender inequality for the 4 https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr/vol1/iss1/3 4 LeVere: Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain better. In order to display this transformation, it is essential to define gender inequality and then how it was demonstrated throughout Spain. Gender inequality, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) refers to the unequal “rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men and girls and boys.” Being that as it may, gender, as it can be disputed “refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female; these attributes, opportunities, and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes.” Hence, “gender determines what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman or a man in a given context, and gender inequality are “inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities” (UN Women). 5 5 Washington University Undergraduate Law Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [2016], Art. 3 With this being said, I, myself, having studied for 7 months in Spain, have been able to learn, witness, and experience the gender inequality. During my short stint in Spain, Madrid specifically, I was able to conduct interviews, take classes, and witness within my home-stay environment the impact globalization has had on Spain since the death of Franco. My personal experience has played a huge role in how I am able to cope with the question of: to what extent has the boom of globalization led to the transformation of gender inequality in Spain. In the following text, the question will be answered based on 3 schools of thought: one, that globalization has transformed gender inequality in Spain for the better by creating equal opportunities, two, that globalization has caused a more stark contrast and practice of gender inequality in Spain, and three, that globalization has made no difference in Spain’s fight with gender inequality. In order to portray the three schools of thought, a comparison will be drawn between what gender roles and 6 https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr/vol1/iss1/3 6 LeVere: Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain opportunities were given to men and women in Spain during the rule of Franco during the years of 1936-1975 and post-Franco’s rule during the years of 1975-2015. METHODOLOGY For the question: “Has the boom of globalization led to the transformation of gender inequality in Spain?” I hypothesize that the boom of globalization has led to the transformation of gender inequality in Spain; especially for the better by creating equal opportunities. I argue that globalization, through the adoption of globalization norms that have been applied through laws and cultural practices, has strongly influenced gender inequality and created equal opportunities for men and women in Spain. This hypothesis will be explored by comparing gender roles and opportunities offered to women in Spain during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco y Bahamonde from the time span of 1936-1975 and post-Franco’s rule during the years of 1975- present-day 2015. I believe that comparatively, once globalization penetrated Spanish 7 7 Washington University Undergraduate Law Review, Vol. 1, Iss. 1 [2016], Art. 3 society during the post-Franco time period, gender inequality transformed in a positive manner due to variables of culture, education, and laws. Culture, for the case and point of this paper, will refer to: religion, music, film, and literature. Laws, on the other hand, will be defined by the rules which the Spanish government has implemented and are enforced by governmental authorities. The data used to illustrate the culture and laws section of this paper will be both qualitative, based on printed documents such as laws printed by the Spanish government before and after Franco’s regime and organizations instituted by the Spanish government specifically created to work towards gender equality. Other qualitative data used will be Spanish films dating from the respective pre and post Franco time period that discuss gender roles and opportunities. Quantitative data will be presented through data and surveys conducted by The World Bank Data Bank and The Federal Reserve. Both 8 https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/wuulr/vol1/iss1/3 8 LeVere: Globalization and Gender: Inequality Transformed in Spain primary and secondary datum will be reviewed initially through the University of Richmond library database, using a range of information sources such as Gender Watch and Academic Search Complete. To aid in the search, a table of key terms will be constructed and the sources located will be correlated with the terms. To test the current hypothesis, an online search will be conducted to gather source information from reputable companies and organizations that engage in country data collection related to gender, inequality, and their trends in Spain.